Participants Perception of Special Rice Project Activities on Rice Production in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was undertaken in Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kwara State to characterize activities of Special Rice Project (SRP), socio economic characteristics of the participants in SRP, determine participants’ perception of relevance of SRP activities and identified changes in yield of rice due to SRP activities. Through a two - stage random sampling technique, 102 participants in SRP were randomly selected and data collected by means of structured interview schedule. Some of the SRP activities include technology demonstration, inputs supply, financial assistance and provision of information on land preparation. The study showed that 41.1% of the participants were in the age bracket of 31-40 years while 66.7% of them possessed one form of formal education. Participants in SRP cultivated an average farm size of 2.6 hectares and recorded average yield of 3.34 tonnes/hectare. A significant difference exists between average rice yield of participants before and after the introduction of SRP (3.843, P < 0.05). Participants recorded income of N338, 700.00 per annum or N28, 225.00 per month. Based on the empirical evidence of this study, the Special Rice Project activities increased the rice yield of the beneficiaries; therefore, scope of SRP should be expanded to cut across all rice farmers in the country.